Chapter 72: Not right now!

Not right now!

I was stunned and shocked by this question, I didn't know what to answer her at all. Honestly, I did not want to believe that I liked or not, I just couldn't find the right words to explain to her what exactly I felt for her.

  "Its ok if you don't, Jordan. I like you a lot and it's cool if you don't feel the same way about me. How could I forget, you could never like a dumb, poor girl like me. But most importantly, I'd be expecting you for dinner tomorrow, 6 or 7pm Is it ok....." She smiled in the end. I did not smile back instead I licked my lips then I folded them inwardly. We became quiet for five seconds and it felt awkward then she blurted instead.

  "I...uhm...i think its time for me to go home, its pretty late..." She said innocently

  "You look beau....You should not go too soon, you are not a kid...Oh right! Your mother would be worried." I said, I was unstable at that moment.

  "Oh yeah. That's right. I told her that I would be at Zoe's, I didn't know that there was a party as well." 

  "Strictly on invitation, y'all got lucky." I blurted, I couldn't stop being too proud of myself even times I did not mean it.

She looked uneasy and somewhat restless.

  "Don't worry about that, I'm trying to get used to it anyways." She said looking somewhat not bothered at the same time. 

I continued staring at her intensely with a very faint smile, my right fingers ran through her flawless skin up to her cheek. I did not know what came over me, it felt like I was controlled by her secret spell then she eyes glanced at my finger then she turned to my gaze immediately, she was speechless but I had a million words to tell her yet I kept it within myself instead. Her lips slightly opened and I could feel her heart beating faster than usually, she was overwhelmed likewise me too. I took my hands off instead then I said to her calmly

  "Let's get you home, a'ight! I've gotten into countless troubles last few days and right now, I need some peace of mind."

She did not say a word but rather she nodded gently affirming to my suggestion. Jeff and Zoe came forth smiling happily, I liked what I saw; the comfortability and stable relationship between them.

  "Hey Pix!!!" Jeff called nicely with a broad smile then they hugged swiftly.

  "Hey Jeff. Beautiful party. Flamboyant!" She complimented then Jeff smiled to it.

  "Thanks." He turned to me like he waited for me to say a word "I'll take Zoe home while you take her home as well, bro!"

  "I know about that." I nodded with a tight smile "I'll see you tomorrow, you've got so much to tell me, man!" 

We hugged then we parted. Mr Marco insisted that i take some bottles of his wine that was classified into five different flavors, i was given 20 in totality. I was grateful and of course my father would do the rest properly. Larry opened the door for us as we hopped in without hesitations, he knew the direction we were headed to first. For the first five minutes of our drive, we were totally silent and there was a tiny space between us, my hands would not stop roaming around. I placed my left hand on the seat while her fingers were entangled

Her hand joined in my gesture and finally our fingers entangled tightly and we smiled faintly at each other coincidentally. 

  "Did you talk to Lamar about where you're at?" I asked to be certain and also hear the truth because I felt Jeff was hiding something from me and i didn't want trouble.

  "He...He didn't tell me why he wouldn't be here." She said but it sounded too untrue

  "Pixie! I'm not being rude at all so could you return the favor, could you?" I inquired. She reasoned turning to me finally

  "He assumed that you'd be in the party so he relented. He's angry at you..." 

  "...Coz of you, right?" I laughed "Well if that's the reason then I don't care about that." I blurted. She took off her fingers facing her front Instead and she looked mad, I really didn't bother about that. How could she be defendant over Lamar and she wouldn't expect no apologies from me.

  "All for him, right? I see you love this guy. If you really do, so why did you ask me if I liked you or not? If I told you yes, what would have been your reaction? And what if it was no...Would you care about that too?" I asked her with a wicked smile. I felt normal again being myself again. She scratched her neck lightly

  "I uh..." She stuttered

  "That's right, Pixie. You're trying to play two guys, two friends against each other. Wow! To be honest, who are you in love with, Lamar or Jordan?" I asked her as she tried to answer between stutters then I cut her short "You should ask yourself not answer me." I instructed. She was lost for words because I pointed out the truth to her. I also turned away focusing on my cell phone, Darkie wouldn't stop sending me flirty and flattering messages and she did the usual, stealing glances and I'd intentionally move closer for her to see afterwards I'd only laugh out loud to vex her

We halted at her in front of her door step. She hoped down respectively with a long face

  "Thanks for the ride!" 

Then I tapped Larry's shoulder lightly, I tried not to be disrespectful to him anyways.

  "Can we go, please? Thanks." I asked then he nodded positively pressing a button in front of him causing the door to close. We drove away while she stood there amazed or angry or remorseful, whichever one.

Father and Mother were excited for the souvenirs from Mr Marco and they promised a visit in no time. I knocked on Yeesha's door after I took a hot shower, then I peeped through, she was on a video call with Skye, he looked excited and jolly, good for him. Right when I was about to turn around to leave then she turned to me. 

I didn't know how she knew that i was behind but she saw me. 

  "Hey Kareem! Skye says hi!"

  "And I don't!" I blurted turning around to leave then she turned to Skye through the screen and said

  "Don't worry, he'll come around! He's a little bit grumpy!" 

I looked at them in distaste then I walked away. I regretted why I decided to check up on her or maybe it was karma at my door step, I instantly assumed. I felt sleepy from a very long day, the flight, the party and its problems attached.

                      *****************

A week after,

Lamar and I were not in good talking terms.

I owed him no apologies nor explanations, the decided that we go separate ways for a while then I told that he could take the whole time in world to shake off his childish behaviors. A month and two weeks from now, I'd be only a Senior high school graduate. Darkie and I had been seeing each other more often, luckily for her but forcefully for me. Pixie and I have been like ghosts crossing each other's path and funny enough, i could not stop getting her jealous and angry while she tried all she could to make me feel remorseful. Jeff disappeared into the thin air with Zoe for God knows what. I entered the class abruptly and this time Pixie was waiting for me. I decided on keeping everything strictly professional ever since my friend decided to be my problem, I could only prove to him that I would not fight over a girl, especially his girl. I took off my blazer keeping it on the chair while my bag was beside it. I rolled my sleeves up for a proper lecture. Final examinations was forth coming so I took my time to put her through despite the ills between us.

  "Hi Pixie! I've decided to take my take my time onward for an extensive lecture and you can storm in other courses you find overly and extremely difficult, how about two hours?" I asked suggesting to her, then she smiled concurring to my idea.

  "That's thoughtful and I thank you for..."

She began then i interrupted

  "It was a Yes or No question. That's a yes! Can we proceed?" I asked her 

  "Yes! Of course." She agreed. She had so many things to tell me but I was the hindrance, I wouldn't give room for any conversation. I didn't want any distraction throughout my final year, I promised my parents to be the most outstanding student even if I've never faltered, luckily for me. I did my best to make sure that Pixie dies better. As soon as I was done teaching I asked if she had any question you ask but good for her, she had none. I took my blazer and bag to leave then she stopped me.

  "Jordan?"

  "Pixie, I've had a long day and I'd love to rest so damn well." I said

  "Can we at least talk?" She requested. What's so important that she desperately wants to talk about?! 

  "I want..." She began as Darkie entered abruptly. She looked at Pixie first before me

  "Jordan! Are you done? I waited at the cafeteria for you to round up." Darkie said smiling as well hugged. I smiled back faintly

  "That's sweet. We should eat out, what do you think?" I asked her. I wrapped my hand around her waist, she looked very pretty as always reminding me about the recent photo shoot. Pixies' eyes wouldn't stop staring at us and me particularly. Darkie tried hard to make Pixie jealous, I sensed it through her actions, really obvious.

  "That's even better. I promised Yeesha some practical lessons at your house, hope you don't mind?" She asked me. Darkies' really good with social media and technology as well so Yeesha must have had her way in.

  "We should head on!" I affirmed. My eyes roamed about stopping at Pixie, then I kissed Darkie for a few seconds still staring at Pixie sideways. She was hurt and pissed instantly. "I'll see you tomorrow, Pixie."

Darkie turned Pixie instead and asked politely

  "Would you like him to drop you off? Jordan's heart is wide enough for today." She taunted alongside

  "I'm fine. Lamar would be here anytime soon." Pixie tried to keep a straight face up.

  "Alright then. Baby, can we go?" Darkie asked then I smiled at her instead of saying a word. I felt overridden, Darkie loved me wholeheartedly but I liked for being real and true to herself, she goes for whatever that was positively necessary to her. Being intelligent and rich, a daughter to a renowned lawyer, unfortunately her mother passed on years ago because of breathing cancer. Sometimes she'd cry on me anytime she remembers her mother. Darkie is really a nice and wonderful personality and someone who'd do anything to keep herself at the top, even for people she loved and cared. As soon as I opened the door for us to walk out Lamar was right there. I turned to Pixie instantly, I signaled her then I turned to Lamar with a faint smile.

  "Off we go, Darkie!" I said as she blushed.

We walked out to the car, chattering about our earlier classes encounters. If it was about discussing, she was good at bringing up conversations.

  "I had a really had a good day, we had a competition and of course, I won that medal!" She exclaimed then I smiled forcefully. She talks about her achievements every single time and that pisses me off.

  "You always win everything, remember?! That's awesome." I feigned. She stopped smiling

  "Jordan, that's not funny. Are you mocking me?" She looked disappointed

  "Why would I? You mentioned something great and it really turns me off. Can we not always talk about It?" I asked her, I looked serious this time. Her mood brightened abit

  "You should have told me earlier, Jordan! I didn't know you didn't want hear all that. Ok! We could do something fun, just tell me what it is, I'll get that done." She inquired

  "I'm really exhausted and all I need to do is rest. You know how tutorials be like..." I explained to her then I yawned

  "You should stop teaching her so that you can rest. It's almost time for examinations so?" She suggested. I don't know if this question was deliberately asked or harmlessly.

  "I can't do that at the dying minute. She needs me around." I explained as I sipped from the bottle of sparkling water.

  "She needs you around huh? I see the way she looks at you, she wants every moment with you, Jordan. She has Lamar so let her deal with it." She complained almost yelling

  "....Just shut up, Darkie! What do you even know about Pixie?" I asked defensively

  "I get it, Jordan. Do you even like me at all? Coz, I don't understand. Im not preying on you, I'm not asking you for nothing and I'm depending on you for something. All we have is a decent relationship that your parents see nothing wrong with. Have I asked for something different ever since? You look at her lustfully, you do anything to make her happy then how about me making sacrifices for you and even your sister?" She asked me. Darkie was angry, she turned away folding her arms. I realized that just maybe I said too much. I held her hand then she pushed mine away severally.

  "Darkie! Darkie c'mon, we're not arguing again, remember?" I reminded her. We agreed on that too. We were both quiet until we got to my house. Darkie has been nothing but sweet and still savage but I just couldn't understand why I wasn't into her that much emotionally but everything with Darkie is like a dream come through, a dream girl. I had to talk to her before we could go into the house entirely. She took her bag and her laptop along as she hopped down, immediately I did the same. She walked briskly without a word, before she could get to the porch, right at the entrance I dragged her behind. We stared at each other just like the photo shoot we engaged, I didn't want those old Unreal memories interfering, I wanted something surreal that should be brought to reality. It wasn't a time for me to be rude or silly to her, I really wanted to apologize to her about everything and the lack of attention I gave to her. I began.

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